Group Project + Presentation in an Oral, Visual or Hybrid Genre

This assignment is an opportunity to experiment with autobiographical storytelling beyond the textual form of the essay.

Possible project genres

• Memory map / memory-media (mix-CD with liner notes), accompanying short narrative essay (a la Coates, Davis)
• Comic / graphic memoir (a la Bechdel, Satrapi)
• Art journal / illuminated manuscript or guide (a la Barry)
• Photo essay (a la Sharlet, Tim O’Grady) / ekphrastic
• Oral history / podcast episode (interview or collection of short interviews with framing; a textual record of a series of conversations a la Terkel, Alexievich)
• Audio essay (where sound, music, field recordings etc. play a necessary role in recorded essay reading)
• Archival recovery / erasure (a la Longsoldier)
• This is not an exhaustive list. Feel free to propose other projects.

After reading a selection of samples, you will form groups based on your shared interests and develop a more specific project prospectus outlining: (1) the genre you will learn about and produce, (2) 3-5 supplementary readings/samples of that genre, (3) the nature of your project (whether individual or collaborative), (4) the personal or autobiographical angle (if you plan to produce individual projects, the link can be more personal; if the project is collaborative, the link should be shared somehow, whether thematic, experiential, MIT-related etc.) and (5) a set of internal deadlines and a loose plan for how you will spend class time.

This assignment is also an opportunity to collaborate, though this collaboration can take different forms. In some groups, collaboration will focus on prospectus development and critique (where group members work in the same genre and read the same samples, but develop independent work and present it within a loose genre framework). In other groups, you will collaborate more closely on the final project (creating one, longer product like a photo essay series or podcast episode).

At the end of the unit, your group will (1) submit what you made (whether independently or collaboratively), and (2) present your genre and project to the class in a 15-20 minute presentation. These presentations will take different forms, but should be thoughtfully designed, coherent, and prepared with an audience of your classmates in mind. In some form, they should:

• Orient the class to your group’s genre, project goals, and meaningful features of your genre as a vehicle for autobiographical expression
• Allow your classmates to experience and appreciate elements of the projects themselves (even if there isn’t time to play, project, or read them aloud in full) – as you are considering how to excerpt or present your projects, consider how you might do this to maximize audience engagement, orientation, and enjoyment
• Offer insight into process (even if it is simply by preparing to speak about your process in the Q&A)
• Offer all group members approximately equal time to speak and contribute
• Engage, enlighten and entertain!

Schedule

• Mon Nov 13: Form teams of 3-4, discuss and create a project prospectus (goals, reading list, timeline). Meet in class with me to discuss your plan.
  • Due by Wednesday, Nov 15: Group prospectus
• Mon Nov 20: In-class group work day
• Wed Nov 22: (Day before Thanksgiving break) – In-class group work day (if you are traveling, divvy up work ahead of time)
• Mon Dec 4: Group presentations – Day 1
  • Due: Group projects (on Canvas) + Presentations (in class)
• Wed Dec 6: Group presentations – Day 2